Abstract: An insulative body of a medical electrical lead electrode assembly includes a pre-formed channel having a section extending at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the body. An electrode portion of a conductive component has an electrode contact surface facing outward from a first side of the body and a coupling portion embedded in the body. A conductor, which is coupled to the coupling portion of the component, is disposed in the channel.

Abstract: A medical electrical lead electrode assembly includes an insulative carrier and at least one conductive component. The at least one conductive component includes an electrode portion disposed on a first side of the carrier and at least one tab extending away from the electrode portion, through the carrier to a second side of the carrier. The electrode portion of the at least one component includes an outward facing contact surface and an inward facing surface, the inward facing surface being disposed opposite the contact surface and against a surface of the first side of the carrier. The electrode assembly further includes a joint coupling a flexible elongate conductor to the tab of the at least one component on the second side of the carrier, and an insulative layer extending over the joint and the tab and the conductor, the insulative layer being bonded to the second side of the carrier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catheter incorporating an articulating distal end, including a catheter body with a central lumen and an outer wall in which are one or more wires, and a handle including mechanisms for applying tension to the wires. Applying tension to a wire will cause a bending portion of the catheter to bend into an arc. When more than one wire or tensioning member and more than one mechanism for applying tension are included in the catheter, the wires are offset from each other so that multiple bends on multiple planes may be formed in multiple bending portions in the body of the catheter. The present invention further relates to a catheter including one wire, and a handle including a mechanism for applying tension to the wire, the wire and the catheter body configured so that applying tension to a wire will cause more than one bending portion of the catheter to bend into an arc, and the bending portions are made of different durometer material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical device including two parallel tubes attached to each other, one of which is shorter in length and receives a guide snare for directing the path of the catheter within a patient's blood vessels and into the patient's heart. The present invention further relates to a method of using a catheter comprising two tubes, whereby a guide snare is anchored to a shunt within a patient's heart and extends out of the patient's body, one of the tubes of the catheter being placed about the guide snare and the catheter being advanced into the patient's heart along the guide snare.